Universe For Sale

By Elliot Jackman

Cal Pierson uncovers more than he bargained for during an archeological dig on a remote lake in the middle of Africa. Cal's single-minded goal to prove his theory of human evolution, and save his career, culminates in him and his wife getting embroiled in a 50,000 year old intergalactic murder spree.
Accidentally launching a long dormant space craft puts them in a desperate situation. Unknowingly, they awaken a madman wanted for crimes in multiple galaxies before he was put in stasis and left for dead.

Their new crew mate plows through dangerous situations like a bulldozer, but always seems to come out on top. During this emotional roller coaster, Cal realizes the only important thing in his life is his love for his wife, Judy. The only way they are going to survive is by working together and hoping their only friend in the universe, an inspector appointed by the President of the Federation, is still on their heels.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elliot Jackman
• Release date: Mar 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733845304

Elliot Jackman

Elliot Jackman is an American science fiction author. He was born in Hialeah, Florida in 1964. Elliot has lived in many locations in addition to the Miami, Florida area, such as Oakville, CT, Springfield, MA. Jackman and his bride currently live in Florence, South Carolina with their two cats.In addition to writing short stories and books, Elliot writes computer software full time.

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Universe

For Sale

Elliot Jackman

http://elliotjackman.com

Copyright © 2019 by Elliot Jackman. All rights reserved.

Distributed by Smashwords

No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

First Edition

DEDICATION

To my family members that helped

me throughout this journey.

Andromeda Galaxy

52,400 years ago

The acrid stench of violent death hung in the air. Several charred and bloody bodies of the now extinct librarians blocked the entrance. Those slender corpses served as a shining example of the Captain’s regular handiwork. The grisly sight instantly triggered Salvo’s recurring fantasy of killing the captain; a fantasy that quickly consumed his thoughts.

Get rid of these bodies before they start to stink! yelled the captain, waving his gun over his head.

Salvo and Tubs dragged the bodies out of the room to a clearing a short distance from the cave entrance. They were sure to leave them far enough away so the captain wouldn’t have to smell them. Once they returned, the captain started right in again.

I want to know how this library works! I want the information on the port right now so we can get off this shit rock!

Salvo looked at him with weary eyes, Well captain, it seems to me that you just killed the only ones that knew how to operate this place. So, what’s the plan now?

The captain raised his weapon towards Salvo, You don’t think I can figure out how to operate this place?

Salvo looked at the captain’s gun with a sneer, Of course captain. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

He didn’t care if the captain shot him; it seemed like the easiest way out of the nightmare this job had become. He was the last of the captain’s original crew. Two of his original crewmates were dead now, since they didn’t follow the captain’s orders to his satisfaction.

The captain recruited two new crew members on a non-Federation spaceport shortly after the first … mishap. One of the new guys thought this was a democracy and disagreed with one of the captain’s tactics. The captain responded by snapping his neck without another word. Due to the sudden opening on the crew’s roster, the team wound up with Frang Pulton, so things turned out for the best… in a morbid sort of way.

The captain’s every thought and action had revolved around finding this library for as long as Salvo had known him. He’d been with him for a year now, on the hunt for information that brought the crew to this spot. There’d been one lead after another; one dead informant after another. Some good leads and some dead ends. All the leads were a dead end for the people providing the information anyway. Anyone that didn’t cooperate with the captain was slaughtered. If they did cooperate, he would do them the service of murdering them quickly, with minimal pain.

Salvo lost track of how many people the captain had slain while they were together. He’d been keeping count in the beginning, but when the confrontations started to involve multiple people, he knew he’d lost track of the death toll at some point and gave up on the score card.

Well trained in warfare and survival tactics, the captain has the innate ability to confront any size group and remain unscathed. Salvo had never seen, hell, even heard of, someone with the type of skill and luck that the captain commanded.

Salvo was pretty well known in low places for his skill at ‘hunt for hire’ gigs and could handle himself well in a fire fight. Now that he’d seen the captain in action, he realized that his skills were moderate at best. In all the deadly confrontations they’d been in (and there had been dozens) none lasted more than a few minutes. The captain took advantage of every millisecond in battle. He knew exactly when to push forward, never letting a half-second opportunity pass by.

All this traveling and killing culminated in their arrival at the library. It turned out to be much smaller than Salvo had imagined. The library is supposed to house the entire knowledge base of the most advanced race of beings to ever inhabit the Universe. He’d imagined it would be an enormous building, but it turned out to be a room at the end of a cave. It was only twice the size of their six-person crew quarters on ship.

According to the captain, this society ran a port that allowed the transfer of people and cargo to another universe; a universe that he felt would somehow be of use to him.

The truth is, Salvo didn’t care about universes, whether it was visiting them, conquering them, or otherwise. He was just here for the payday. If he had to do it all over again, when the captain was recruiting him for the crew, he’d have turned around and walked away. Their crew was likely the most hunted group in the Universe, so now he had nowhere else to go.

* * *

Days went by without any results. It was easy enough to activate the equipment, Frang Pulton had the place running within minutes. Getting anything out of the library proved to be more challenging, Frang was pretty sharp when it came to technical things like this. He claimed to be a computer logic engineer from a famous family of computational geniuses. Salvo wondered what he was doing with the captain if that were really true. Seemed to him that he could make his way on any technologically advanced planet with those qualifications.

Ironically, it was Tubs that eventually figured out the library. Ironic because he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the block.

There was a row of six ocean green lounge chairs in the back, where the crew often sat and discussed their lack of progress. They never realized the chairs were the medium to get at the information.

One morning, Tubs was leaning back in one, looking like he was ready to nod off.

Shit! Did you hear that? he said, jumping up from the chair, turning to stare at it. He started running his fingers through his hair, mouth hanging open.

What’s the matter with you, something crawl up your ass? Salvo replied.

Screw you. I don’t know what’s going on, something talked to me. You sure you didn’t hear it?

Talked to you? Nobody even likes talking to you, so I think you’re full of shit! This place is messing you up. Maybe I need to keep a watch on you?

Up yours, I’m serious. I was just sitting here daydreaming and thinking how I wanted to know how this damned library works. Then a voice started talking. You really didn’t hear it?

No, Salvo seated his finger in the trigger of the Hydrogen Ion Generator, or HIG, in his lap. I didn’t hear anything.

Tubs sat back down in the chair, his eyes darting back and forth to see if something else in the room was possibly the source of the voice he had heard. When nothing seemed to stand out to him, he leaned back and closed his eyes. After about a minute, they flew open in triumph.

I’ve got it!

Yeah, you’ve got it alright. If I catch it, I’m gonna kick your ass.

Tubs looked at Salvo with an unwavering stare, You’re really stupid. Were you born this way, or did you get this way on purpose? Listen you shit, I know how this place works now. I can even teach an idiot like you. Sit back in the chair before I tell the captain that we have to sacrifice you to the library gods to get it working.

After Tubs explained the process to the crew, it seemed pretty simple in retrospect. The system was addressed as ‘the library’ in your thoughts. Whatever question you asked the system, it would elicit a verbal menu of choices that the individual could use to navigate within the knowledge center. When the person arrived at the answer, they knew the information. It was as if it had always been in their mind.

So, we can now operate the Universe port? asked the captain.

Tubs looked away, I don’t know, I didn’t ask about that yet.

The captain snorted and sat down in one of the chairs, barely able to squeeze in with his wide torso. After a few minutes, he stood back up. You! All of you! Request ‘inter-universe transportation system operational procedures’ now!

They followed their orders, using the system to gain the knowledge to enter and operate the universe port. The crewmates started talking about the potential of the library, the things they could learn, the knowledge and power it would give them. They spent the next several hours sitting in the chairs, just letting their minds wander from topic to topic.

The captain jumped up and shouted, I am now the ruler of all the universes! All of you, get out of here, NOW! He was waving them to the door with his rifle.

Once again, the crew followed the captain’s orders, since there was never any other choice. The three of them stomped out of the library and headed back to the ship.

On the way back, they traded glances as they heard explosions coming from the library. Salvo felt like he was going to vomit. He’d never get over hearing those sounds. It might be hypocritical for him to hate the captain for stealing, or even killing people, but destroying one of the greatest resources of knowledge in the Universe easily surpassed all his other actions.

That’s when Salvo finally decided it was time, time to figure out a way to put a stop to Captain Insanity.

Modern Day

Lake Eyasi, Tanzania

We’re getting closer Natal, the signal is really strong now!

Natal, the site lead, was wide eyed, Yes, we are very close, I think we could be within days of discovery.

Cal was shaking his head, Damn it, I have to get the University to let me hire some more help here!

Yes Dr. Pierson, this is very slow going with just the six of us. I feel like we have only scratched the surface. He looked at the surroundings, Actually, when I look around, I see that this is all we have done.

Cal’s budget had only been approved for himself, a site lead and two assistants. He was burning through his budget forty percent faster than was approved. He’d have to contact the university soon to get more money allotted for the dig.

Cal put down the metal detector. I know, I never expected to find a metallic signal like this here. Trying to dig this tunnel with these tools is like emptying a swimming pool with a spoon.

Cal took off his hat and ran his hand over his short, cropped hair. We’ve spent way more time on this than we can afford, but I can’t help but believe there’s something special here. I can’t explain why, but I know it has something to do with our mission here.

Cal had selected the lush area around Lake Eyasi, Tanzania after two decades of research. The exact site was perched between a lake and the highlands. His theory that Homo erectus and Homo sapiens have an evolutionary link that has eluded scholars would surely be proven by the evidence that was likely to be found here.

During a routine check of the site using a metal detector, Cal had located a large signal deep within the side of a hill, right where the elevation started to rise away from the lake. He ordered in a magnetometer to get a better grasp of the size of the object, but there was no signal detected by the device.

Cal had brought in the magnetometer because it has a much larger search area capability, however, it only detects ferrous metals, such as iron. It wouldn’t detect gold, silver or other non-magnetic metals. He was using the same assumptions that shipwreck hunters use while utilizing magnetometers: they’re not actually looking for gold and silver, but for cannons that were on every ship that carried large amounts of wealth. He had also assumed that there would be lots of ferrous metal as well, but in retrospect, it could actually be copper, gold or silver, which would be the metals most likely used in their raw form during ancient time periods.

I know Doctor, this signal is very unusual for this area. I too believe this must be something manmade, as we do not have any history of such large precious metal deposits on this part of the continent. Even if it were, it would probably not be this close to the surface, said Natal.

Cal always enjoyed working with Natal. The combination of his formal education, military background and his thick accent made him seem so… competent. He had the quintessential Nigerian accent that was so perfect, it often made Cal feel that he must practice it.

When I return to Arusha, I’m going to push the University board for additional funding to bring in a few more hands, replied Cal.

When he realized it was getting dark, Cal said, Let’s knock off for the day, it’s time for a hearty dinner and some well-deserved sleep.

* * *

Later, in the tent, sleep was elusive. Cal’s imagination had him thinking about the different possible outcomes for the metallic anomaly.

He found his thoughts wandering back to his childhood, chuckling to himself when he remembered how he wanted to be a fireman, then a year later, a policeman. When he was a teenager, he was sure he was going to be a doctor.

When he was sixteen, his best friend’s father invited the two of them to go on an archaeological dig. Cal thought it might be fun digging up stuff and camping out. That experience transformed his life like he never could’ve imagined.

He had experienced the thrill of discovery. He was mesmerized by the intense thought, planning, and discipline that had to go into everything that was done. He fell in love with the analysis of the dig findings, along with comparing them to known history to help fill in gaps of what humans knew about their past.

He realized why he’d always considered careers that were in the public service on that trip. It was because he wanted to help people. He wanted to do something that would help folks better their situation. He knew then that firemen, policemen and doctors all had a positive impact on people. That’s why he’d considered those careers in the first place, but those people were only able to help one person at a time.

Scientific research was another area that he thought would have the same huge impact on humanity, but the logic of mathematics had always eluded him. Even to this day, he was afraid to submit his department’s yearly budget request without having Judy, his lovely bride of ten years, double check his figures and calculations.

Cal felt that his day had finally come. He knew in his heart that all his years of research were finally going to pay off. Sure, he had made plenty of noteworthy discoveries over the years, but none that had fulfilled his need to help humanity rise to the next level of understanding.

With the discoveries that he’d found so far, he was sure it would cause a ripple effect throughout society. Their finding of farm implements which carbon dated to over 50,000 years ago was a game changer. To show that humanity’s ancestors were farmers, instead of the widely accepted belief that they were nomadic hunters was incredible.

He knew that when the academic world realized the impact of his discovery, it could change everything. The way people felt about each other, even how different races felt about each other. It could even impact how psychologist view our mind’s inner workings.

He thought about his wife, Judy, and how proud she’d be of him. He knew that she’d sacrificed just as much as he had to get here. This discovery was hers too, and she deserved equal credit for being so supportive.

Cal knew he was on the precipice of the most important discovery of his career. This would have the impact he’d always dreamed of.

* * *

The next morning Cal had the two assistants that were still with them at the site continue to work on some test pits around the dig area.

He reviewed the expense ledger first thing and realized that his initial funding had almost been exhausted. He knew he was going to have to make a pretty strong argument to obtain more funding.

I know if I can get irrefutable proof that this was a farm site from 50,000 BCE, then I won’t have any trouble getting more funding. In the meanwhile, I’ll keep the team split between the test pits and the tunnel dig. The metallic find, for which we dug the tunnel to begin with, has to be significant!

Cal and Natal were heading to the tunnel to continue their work on the back wall. When do you think Bal and Tanuti will be back?

Natal replied, Oh, they should be back by mid-afternoon, since the weather looks good today. They’ll make really good time. That’s if they were able to get to town early enough yesterday to pick up all the supplies. If they had to wait and purchase the supplies this morning, they may be a little later.

At the beginning of the dig, Cal hadn't planned on doing this type of deep digging into the hillside. They only had one small Bobcat 328 mini excavator that was really designed for creating trenches. They had repurposed it to dig the tunnel, but it only helped break up the sand and rocks. Most of the debris was carried out by hand, since the excavator was very slow and the bucket didn't hold enough to make it worth driving back and forth.

The top of the tunnel was not solid rock, but it was notably denser than the material they were tunneling through. Cal figured this may have been an ancient overhang that had the dirt and rocks pushed underneath by thousands of years of water level changes in the lake due to heavy rains and droughts.

Natal, I'd like to work on the parts of the back wall that can still be penetrated with the excavator. Would you mind getting the wheelbarrows?

Yes sir, I will get the equipment, if you work the excavator, I’ll clear the debris, Natal replied.

Cal jumped into the excavator and pushed the start button. After a few spins, it started up with a sputter. He put the machine in gear and inched toward the wall. He worked the hydraulic controls to bring the small bucket up and started to knock the dirt away from around a boulder that was three meters wide and two meters tall; about the size of a VW Bug.

Natal had placed the wheelbarrows near the excavator, so when a fair pile of dirt and rocks collected, Cal would scoop a portion up and fill one of the wheelbarrows. Natal was also filling another smaller wheelbarrow with a hand shovel.

Dr. Pierson! Natal yelled over the sound of the small diesel engine, Dr. Pierson! Cal slowed the engine for a moment so he could hear Natal.

Dr. Pierson, the team is concerned about removing much more material, as that large boulder could become dislodged and damage the excavator, not to mention cause an injury. Also, if it falls in front of the wall, we will not be able to get the excavator close enough to use it until the boulder is broken up and removed.

Cal thought, I’ll work on the dirt and small rocks on the right side of the boulder. The left side was closer to the wall of the tunnel, so I’m not really removing enough material to cause the boulder to become lose anyway.

Cal replied, Okay, I’m only going to work on this one side, so it shouldn’t cause an issue with the boulder.

They worked for another thirty minutes, when Cal saw something out of the corner of his eye. He quickly glanced over at the boulder and saw dirt and small pebbles falling from above the huge rock. He threw the excavator in reverse while at the same time yelling at Natal, WATCH OUT! Before the excavator had moved twelve inches, the boulder started to tumble out of the position it had been in for so many thousands of years. It hit the excavator with the force of a truck, throwing it about five feet back and knocking it on its side.

SunHopper, Class 7

Systems log begin

Time stamp: Federation 98432.5.28.1.1.17

Unusual seismic activity detected in proximity. Humidity levels rising from current level of 3% at a rate of 2% per minute. Free oxygen and hydrogen levels rising, carbon dioxide level decreasing.

Humanoid life forms in immediate proximity.

Begin ship high priority systems diagnostic scan.

Modifying de-humidification system schedule to begin H2O accumulation immediately.

Begin medium priority systems reanimation.

Schedule DNA scan of life forms upon medium priority systems reanimation completion.

Low priority system reanimation scheduled to begin after completion of medium priority system diagnostic scan.

Internal life support systems offline.

Bad News Travels Fast

The boulder’s exit from the wall had created such a dust storm that Natal couldn’t see anything in the tunnel. He pulled his hat off and covered his nose and mouth.

DOCTOR PIERSON! DOCTOR PIERSON! YELL IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!

Cal was starting to come around. He started coughing and wheezing as his lungs filled with the dust from the tunnel. He covered his mouth with his hand to try and block some of it from filling his mouth. Then he heard Natal yelling for him.

Natal, I’m over here!

The dust had started to settle and Cal realized he was laying on his side. The excavator had been knocked over and he was still inside the caged portion. He looked up to see Natal leaning over the edge of the cage, holding his hat over most of his face.

Don’t move Dr. Pierson, I’ll get some help and get you out of here.

Cal tried to push himself up, but he was too dizzy to stand fully upright. A minute later, Natal was back with the two assistants. Together, they were able to rescue Cal and help him hobble back to his tent.

Cal had a nasty-looking cut on his forehead. Natal had the first aid kit out in no time to clean and dress the wound.

While Natal was tending to the cut, Cal asked him, What is the prognosis? Do you think I’ll live? There appears to be a lot of my blood that isn’t where it should be!

Don’t worry, face wounds always bleed a lot, but that isn’t a sign of a serious injury. I am more concerned that you might have a concussion.

Cal didn’t hear anything else that Natal might have said, because he had fallen fast asleep.

* * *

Cal awoke due to a cacophony of noise outside his tent. He was able to get himself upright and hobble out with only mild dizziness. He saw that Bal and Tanuti had arrived back from getting supplies in town. He looked at the sky and guessed it was fairly late in the afternoon, judging by the level of the sun against the horizon.

Bal and Tanuti came running up to Cal.

Dr. Pierson, are you okay? Natal just told us what happened!

Yeah guys, I think I’m fine. I probably won’t be able to go to the dance tonight though.

Bal and Tanuti looked at each other.

Never mind, I’m fine, thanks for asking. Were you able to get all the supplies we needed?

Well, no Dr. Pierson, the supply house wouldn’t give us anything. They gave us this message for you from the University.

Cal looked at the crumpled yellow envelope in Tanuti’s hand for a few seconds before reaching for it. This was odd, the University didn’t usually send messages like this. He had planned on heading into town for the next supply run and would have checked in from the hotel as usual.

Cal slid his finger under the flap to open the envelope and removed the single folded sheet of paper. The fingerprints on the letter showed that Bal and Tanuti had already read it, and didn’t seem too concerned about concealing that fact.

Dr. Pierson

The Casuistic University funding board was notified that your cost center for the Lake Eyasi dig project is depleted. The board has not approved an extension in funding.

Please begin dismantling the site and return all equipment rented, as well as equipment on loan from any vendors.

Please verify receipt of this letter as soon as possible by contacting the head of the funding board, Dr. Franklin.

End

What kind of bullshit is this? Cal muttered under his breath. His arms dropped to his side, with the letter loosely held between his fingers.

Bal and Tanuti both looked concerned. Tanuti said, I’m sorry if I brought you bad news Dr. Pierson.

Cal looked at Tanuti, then Bal, Guys, it’s not your fault. There must be some kind of mistake here. I’ll need to go into town in the morning.

No problem Doctor, we’ll take you first thing.

Cal went back in his tent and sat on his cot. He stared absently at the letter again.

This is bullshit. I know I’ve given Mark and other members of the faculty a piece of my mind about their lack of dedication over the years, but this is childish.

Damn it! They all know how important this is to me, as well as to the University and the rest of the world. The discoveries we’re making here will finally put Casuistic University on the map!

This can’t happen, I’ll have to call this idiot tomorrow, but I need to devise a plan if he won’t back down on this.

We’re probably within days of getting to the object, or objects in the tunnel. We’ve found enough evidence in our test pits to convince me this is the right site. This is the discovery that’s going to change the way we all look at ourselves.

If they won’t extend any more funding, I’ll need to find funding elsewhere. Since they’re not likely to send anyone out here right away, I should have free reign for a couple of weeks.

Cal leaned back in his cot.

The dig site expenses are running about $1,400 a day. If I let go of two assistants, one vehicle, cancel the standing hotel room in Arusha, that should bring expenses down well below $1,000 per day. I can adjust the insurance too, since I’ll have less staff out here.

After that, I could continue the dig myself. I’m having trouble making enough headway with the staff I have, I’ll really have to prioritize with less people. I should be able to find enough evidence to prove my thesis in thirty days. After that, I’ll be able to find funding from anywhere.

Actually, this will work out better. Now all the discoveries will be in my name, without the University being able to take any credit. If that’s the way they want it, then I can play the game too.

Arusha, Tanzania

Cal assembled the crew before first light and let them know the team needed to return both trucks to town. He assured them he would be able to straighten out the issue, get the supplies, and head back first thing in the morning.

Bal stayed in camp with Natal, while Tanuti drove the truck with Cal back to Arusha. The two other dig assistants drove the smaller truck behind them.

Once they were in town, Cal headed directly for the hotel. It was five in the afternoon local time, so that would make it nine in the morning in Boston.

Cal called Mark Franklin’s office first, but there was no answer. He left as polite a message as he could under the circumstances.

Then he called Dr. Langostino’s office, another member of the funding board; voicemail again. He finally called one of his closest colleagues and friend who was also on the board, Rick Pendleton, but received his voicemail as well. That was especially disappointing as he knew Rick would give him the lowdown on what was happening.

Cal was really starting to become irritated. If the funding board decided to stonewall him, there was not much he could do about it from here. He didn’t feel it was a good idea to fly back to Boston to try and straighten this out. He’d likely get stuck there and not be able to make it back to the site.

He realized that he wasn’t feeling very well. His chest was tight and he was sweating more than usual. Since he couldn’t stop thinking about this during the long, rough trip from camp, the stress had started to take a physical toll on him.

After striking out with all the members of the funding board, he called Bill Long, one of his staff members doing Postdoctoral work. It was a relief to finally get through to somebody.

Hey Bill, this Dr. Pierson, how are you?

I’m doing fine Dr. Pierson, but the question is, how are you doing?

Well, not so good Bill. I got this cryptic letter from Dr. Franklin’s office about them cutting off funding for the dig. I can’t reach anybody to talk to about it. What’ve you heard?

"Well sir, Dr. Franklin and Dr. Langostino were here the other day. They were very upset that the money allotted for the project